Preview: The Sims Medieval

The destiny of the kingdom rests in the players' hands. Will players build up their kingdom through internal expansion, or perhaps look for a more imperial type of domination.

Release Date: March 22, 2011
MSRP: $29.99
Also on: Mac
T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
Genre: Simulation 
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: The Sims Studio

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Game Development:
The Sims Medieval will provide a medieval setting for the player to work within, with newly designed buildings and scenery to give an authentic "back in time" experience. Players will build a kingdom up, send Sims on quests, and earn rewards in the form of Kingdom Points. The game diverges from the series in that players can win the game by achieving a kingdom ambition. Confirmed ambitions include "Best In Show", "Busy Builder", "Efficient Expander", "Fame", "Filled Coffers", "Hard Workers", "Imperial Domination", "Legendary", "No Quest For The Weary", "Safe And Sound", "Thoughts And Prayers", and "Wealthy Populace"

In a change from other Sims games, Medieval will involve the player building a kingdom, choosing an ultimate goal for that kingdom (such as wealth or popularity) and then fulfilling quests that contribute to that goal. The goal can be completed through the use of heroes (or specialists), for example, the player can have a wizard and a physician cooperate on one quest[1]. Focus, experience, and the traits of the Sim influence their success, and players may choose how the team will attempt to conduct the quest. Players will also choose which Sim will lead the team. Unlike The Sims 3, the Sims Medieval will not be a generational game. That is, to say, the characters in the game will not progress through life stages. The Sims will still be able to procreate, but those children will never age to adulthood. Sims will each have two normal traits and one fatal flaw, which can be turned into a positive trait through a quest.

Although players will be able to customise the pattern and layout of building interiors, the basic structure and shape of buildings won't be changeable.

In an interview with Gamespot, the game's senior producer, Rachel Bernstein stated that the game will be more dangerous for Sims, with death and failure a possibility during the game's quests. Listed dangers included low focus on quests, plague, peasant revolts, wildlife, poisons, duels, and more.